SAFETYLIT WEEKLY UPDATE

We compile citations and summaries of about 400 new articles every week.
RSS Feed

HELP: Tutorials | FAQ
CONTACT US: Contact info

Search Results

Journal Article

Citation

Parenteau CS, Viano DC. Traffic Injury Prev. 2014; 15(7): 694-700.

Affiliation

ProBiomechanics LLC.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15389588.2013.867434

PMID

24433030

Abstract

Purpose: This study estimated the annual count of spinal cord injury (SCI) in motor vehicles crashes by type and seatbelt use using 18 years of NASS-CDS data. It determined the rate for SCI and fracture-dislocation of the spine.

METHODS: 1994-2011 NASS-CDS was used to estimate the annual occurrence of spinal injuries in front-seat occupants involved in motor vehicle crashes. Crashes were grouped by front, side, rear and rollovers, and the effects of belt use were investigated. Light vehicles were included with model year 1994+. Spinal injuries were classified as minor (AIS 1), moderate (AIS 2), serious (AIS 3), fracture-dislocations and SCI (AIS 4+). The annual count and rate for different types of spinal injury were estimated along with standard errors. The results were compared to estimates of head injuries. NASS-CDS electronic cases of SCI in rear impacts were investigated.

RESULTS: There were 5,592 ± 1,170 fracture-dislocations of the spine and 1,046 ± 193 AIS 4+ SCI per year in motor-vehicle crashes. Most of the injuries occurred in rollovers and frontal crashes with the least in rear impacts. The rate of SCI was 0.054% ± 0.010%. The highest rate was 0.220% ± 0.056% in rollover crashes and the lowest rate was 0.032 ± 0.009% in frontal crashes. The highest rate for spinal fracture-dislocation was 1.552% ± 0.455% in rollovers and the lowest was 0.065% ± 0.021% in rear impacts. The rate for SCI was 0.027% ± 0.005% in belted and 0.145% ± 0.028% in unbelted occupants giving 81% effectiveness of belt use in reducing SCI. The cervical spine was associated with 66.3% ± 11.3% of the AIS 4+ SCI with 30.5% ± 7.4% in the thoracic and 3.2% ± 1.3% in the lumbar spine. Severe head injuries occurred 13.3 times more often than SCI.

CONCLUSIONS: Spinal cord injury occurred in one out of 1,860 front-seat occupants in tow-away crashes. The rate was highest in rollover crashes and was reduced by seatbelt use. Fracture-dislocation of the spine occurred about 5.3 times more often than SCI and was also prevented by seatbelt use.


Language: en

NEW SEARCH


All SafetyLit records are available for automatic download to Zotero & Mendeley
Print